Abstract:
Social media has become an integral part of students’ lives, significantly influencing
their psychological well-being. This study examines the impact of social media usage
on the psychological well-being of students in state universities in Sri Lanka. Despite
global research, there is a lack of empirical evidence on how social media use impacts
the psychological well-being of state university students in Sri Lanka, particularly
since this group faces unique academic and cultural pressures. Addressing this gap,
the current study uses a conceptual framework that focuses on four key variables:
highlight reel, social currency, fear of missing out (FOMO), and addiction. It further
investigates whether privacy concerns can moderate the negative effects of these
variables. The objective of this study is to identify the impact of social media usage
on the psychological well-being of state university students in Sri Lanka. This study
followed a deductive, explanatory, and quantitative research approach; data were
collected from a sample of 384 students across 17 state universities using stratified
random sampling and a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS.
The findings reveal that highlight reel, social currency, FOMO, and addiction
negatively affect psychological well-being. However, the moderation analysis shows
that higher levels of privacy concern can alleviate the adverse effects of certain social
media behaviours. The results indicate that the impact of social media on well-being
is complex, offering both potential benefits and risks, depending on students’
awareness and engagement levels. This study offers important insights for educators,
policymakers, and mental health professionals seeking to design effective digital
literacy initiatives and well-being support strategies for students in a hyper-connected
world.
